Altogether, 133 decommissioned former Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) combatants are successfully accomplishing their skills
and entrepreneurship training programs this week.
The series of trainings that the former combatants underwent
is part of the implementation of the agreement under the Terms of Reference of
the Normalization Annex of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB),
the peace deal signed between the government and the MILF on May 27, 2014.
On June 16 last year, 145 former MILF combatants underwent
the (initial) decommissioning process in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao with the
ceremonial turnover of 51 high-powered and 24 crew-serve weapons of the MILF.
These decommissioned combatants underwent a registration, verification, and validation
process and were provided with socioeconomic packages to assist them in their
transformation to peaceful civilian lives.
Out of the 145 decommissioned combatants, 133 decided to
undergo different sets of skills training programs that were conducted by the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as part of the
socioeconomic track of the normalization process.
The skills trainings include bread and pastry production,
driving, carpentry, cookery, motorcycle/small engine repair, dressmaking/tailoring,
automotive servicing, electrical installation and maintenance, and
entrepreneurial skills training.
Aside from these, the former combatants also underwent
trainings on Values Transformation and remedial classes on reading, writing and
numeracy. They were also provided with cash-for-training assistance by the
Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).
“With the assistance of the TESDA, DepEd and the Department
of Social Work and Development and other government agencies, the
decommissioned combatants are now accomplishing their respective trainings to
prepare them towards transformation to unarmed civilians,” said GPH peace panel
chair Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.
She said that the active participation of the former
combatants in the entire training and in the normalization process “shows their
sincerity in peace-building and in concretely transforming from an armed group
into peaceful, civilian lives.”
Ferrer also reiterated that despite the non-passage of the
Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), “we are still pushing for these activities for the
government remains committed to what have been agreed upon in the Comprehensive
Agreement on the Bangsamoro.”
“Even though the proposed BBL was not passed by the 16th
Congress, the gains achieved in the Bangsamoro peace process throughout the
decades have been tremendous. There is solid basis for the people of the
Bangsamoro to remain hopeful and continue looking forward toward a better,
peaceful future," she added.
From combat skills to livelihood skills
“The skills and entrepreneurial training program offers
great opportunities for the decommissioned combatants,” said Hadzer Birowa,
director of the socioeconomic unit of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on
the Peace Process (OPAPP).
Birowa said the skills they learned, along with the
livelihood packages that they will receive upon the completion of the entire
training program, is envisioned to prepare them for sustainable livelihood when
they fully transform from being combatants and mainstreamed into civilian
communities.
Abdulaziz Andik, one of the decommissioned combatants who
has devoted 39 years to fighting, chose to train in carpentry.
He shared his feelings on the decommissioning program:
“Napakaganda ng training na ito kasi magagamit ko ito para sa mga anak ko, saka
mapagkakakitaan ko rin dun sa lugar namin. Kaya nagpapasalamat din kami sa mga
nagtiyagang nagturo sa amin na mabigay nila yung kaalaman nila kahit na medyo
nahihirapan sila magturo kasi nga matanda na kami kaya mabagal lang yung
pag-iintindi ko pero pinipilit namin kasi gusto naming matututo, saka para sa
pamilya naman namin ito (The training is very useful to us because this is for
my children and a good source of livelihood in our area. We thank those people
who were very patient in teaching us, who may have found it hard to teach us
because we are already old, but we are trying our best to understand and follow
their instructions because we want to gain knowledge and it is also for the
benefit of our families).”
Another trainee, Hadji Usman Akmad, retold his long history
in the Bangsamoro army. He first became a member of the Ansarul Islam in 1971,
then joined the Black Shirts, and for 39 years, was part of the Moro National
Liberation Front. Now, as a member of the MILF, Hadji Usman is a decommissioned
combatant.
At 73, he enrolled in the dressmaking course to help his
only daughter in her small tailoring business. He feels positive towards the
decommissioning program. “Masaya ako dahil wala na ako sa kabundukan. Pwede na
akong pumunta sa Cotabato na walang sabit dahil civilian na ako. (I feel happy
because I no longer live in the mountains. I can now go to Cotabato City
After choosing their training courses, each participant
underwent a 35-day training (30-day skills and five-day entrepreneurial) in
different sites -- in the TESDA skills training facility in Rebuken, Sultan
Kudarat, in the Old Capitol of Maguindanao and in the INFo Training Center in Crossing
Simuay, Maguindanao. Starter toolkits will be given to them on April 25 this
year upon completion of the entire program.
The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) assistance will be
delivered based on the counselling activities done and validated during home
visitations.
Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua, TESDA Deputy Director General for
Operations, emphasized that the trainings designed for the decommissioned
combatants are unique and special for it involved entrepreneurial skills and
provision of tool kits.
Pascua said he has “high hopes that what the participants
undertook will bring hope and peace in the participants' lives and in their
communities.”
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=876788
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